Childs, John Lewis–(1856-1921)–Floral
Park, New York–Childs was born on May 13, 1856. He acquired a few
acres and set up his business as a seedsman and florist at age eighteen,
after one year as a florist’s helper on Long Island. He was known
internationally for his monthly magazine Mayflower, a magazine of
gardening and home adornment. It appeared from 1885-1906, 23 volumes
in all, with a circulation of half a million copies. He wrote Guide
to Lily Culture that had seven editions, the last one was published
in 1888. By 1892 he had several hundred acres with glass houses,
seed beds, seed stores, Victorian gardens, and a rail spur, canal, and
farm. He established the village of Floral Park to provide for services
and housing for his business. Eight thousand orders arrived each
day from around the world. By the turn of the century, Childs had
set up a seed house in Pasadena, California, and raised geraniums, freesia,
and amaryllis bulbs. Another farm in Suffolk County, New York, was
devoted to the wholesale florist business and grew gladioli, cannas, and
dahlias. Many exotic plants were the subjects of his chromolithographs
in his catalogs.
Sources: HG; CP;
Bryan